Westpac needs no introduction as one of Australia’s “big four” banks. Established in 1817, it has a proud history as Australia’s first and oldest bank.

Westpac is the anchor tenant of Barangaroo’s Tower Two, with 6000 staff in this state-of-the-art, purpose-built agile workplace, which features two internal cafes, an innovation hub, wellness centre, library, 200 seat auditorium, and more.

The Journey

As part of the staged refurbishment, Westpac’s vision for its HQ office was to create a nimble and agile work space that reinforces its position as one of the world’s great service companies.

Additionally, the interiors were to embrace Indigenous elements, demonstrating Westpac’s commitment to Indigenous Communities and their development and economic growth.

The Studio* Collaborative responded to two key pillars – activating a service culture and making innovation accessible to everyone.

This was to be reinforced by the stories woven through the fabric of the fit-out – historical memorabilia, indigenous artwork, and customer stories. These displays aim to provide tactile and very human moments that foster conversations.

The Solution

Designers Rugs worked together with The Studio*Collaborative and the National Aboriginal Design Agency (NADA) to create beautiful designs translated from the work of an indigenous artist. Our design team carefully selected portions of the artwork to create close-up abstractions while still retaining the artist's energy and original painterly look.

To suit the busy foot traffic of this workplace, rugs were inlaid into the floor, creating a flush surface to minimize trip hazards and wear. The rugs were all hand-tufted New Zealand wool, known for its superior durability in high traffic conditions, its natural resistance to staining, and its plush and luxurious feel underfoot. To add shimmer while retaining performance, bamboo yarn was stippled with New Zealand wool in sections.

The Result

The overall result is a revitalised community whose foundation is people. These custom rugs provide visual anchor points for casual collisions, collaborative zones, and meeting spaces, while also creating an almost residential ambiance for enhanced human connection. The narrative of the indigenous artists is also successfully carried throughout the space, displaying differences in design and colour for space delineation while still demonstrating the client's commitments to indigenous communities and artists.

“We entrusted Designer Rugs to bring these very special pieces to life and were thrilled with the outcome. Designer Rugs were easy to work with and the workmanship was superb.” - Melinda Huuk, Director, The Studio* Collaborative.

Photography: Steve Brown Photography